diff --git a/meta/classes/sdk.bbclass b/meta/classes/sdk.bbclass
index 74c0acb9..71db6f3a 100644
--- a/meta/classes/sdk.bbclass
+++ b/meta/classes/sdk.bbclass
@@ -44,9 +44,17 @@ SDK_PREINSTALL += " \
     devscripts \
     equivs"
 
+def get_rootfs_distro(d):
+    host_arch = d.getVar('HOST_ARCH')
+    distro_arch = d.getVar('DISTRO_ARCH')
+    if host_arch == distro_arch:
+        return d.getVar('DISTRO')
+    else:
+        return d.getVar('HOST_DISTRO')
+
 # rootfs/image overrides for the SDK
 ROOTFS_ARCH:class-sdk = "${HOST_ARCH}"
-ROOTFS_DISTRO:class-sdk = "${HOST_DISTRO}"
+ROOTFS_DISTRO:class-sdk = "${@get_rootfs_distro(d)}"
 ROOTFS_PACKAGES:class-sdk = "sdk-files ${SDK_TOOLCHAIN} ${SDK_PREINSTALL} ${@isar_multiarch_packages('SDK_INSTALL', d)}"
 ROOTFS_FEATURES:append:class-sdk = " clean-package-cache generate-manifest export-dpkg-status"
 ROOTFS_MANIFEST_DEPLOY_DIR:class-sdk = "${DEPLOY_DIR_SDKCHROOT}"